Antenna position indicator



Dec. 1, 1964 M. v. FINKEN ANTENNA POSITION INDICATOR Filed Feb. 4, 1963FIGNI FIG. 4

INVENTOR.

MARGARET V. FINKEN A TTOR NE N5.

U d S 7 O 3,159,136 V Patented Dec. 1, 1964 direction and angle to .theoptimum setting. Then the 3,159,136 dummy antenna corresponding tochannel 4 on the in- ANTENNA POSETHJN INDICATOR Margaret V. Finken, 6928Braddock Road, Springfield, Va.

Filed Feb. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 256,042 7 Claims. (Cl. 116114) Thisinvention relates to an antenna position indicator for use with radio ortelevision receiving sets and more particularly to position indicatorsfor pole-type antennas.

Pole antennas, both single pole and dipole or rabbit ears antennas, arewidely used with radio and television receivers, many receivers havingthe antenna structure built into the cabinet. It is well known that theangular position and the direction of the pole aifects the reception,and that for any given transmission frequency there is an optimumsetting of the antenna pole. Setting of the antenna is effected by atrial and error method; and when the receiver is tuned to differenttransmission frequencies, the setting of the antenna must be changed bythe trial and error method.

According to the present invention, I provide an indicator whichindicates the optimum antenna position for each transmission frequencywhereby the adjustment of the receiver antenna is facilitated; and thetrial and error method is eliminated. The invention will be described inrelation to television receivers, but it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that it is equally applicable to radio receivers. Itwill also be apparent that the indicator of my invention is useful bothwith receivers having built in pole antennas as well as receiversemploying separate pole antenna units.

Accordingly, the principal object of my invention is to provide anindicator for pole-type antennas which is simple and inexpensive toconstruct and which readily indicates the optimum setting for eachtransmission channel or frequency.

Referring to the accomponying drawing, FIG. 1 is a view of a televisionreceiver with the antenna position indicator of the invention positionedthereon. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the embodiment ofthe invention shown in FIG. 1.

PEG. 3 is a view of a portion of a second embodiment of the invention.FIG. 4 is a view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3.

The indicator 20 comprises a base 10 made of metal, plastic, or othersuitable material carrying a plurality of adjustable poleantenna-simulating units. The indicator 20 is preferably placed on thereceiver 11 as shown in FIG. 1 but may also be placed adjacent it.Preferably,

' panded resins such as foamed polystyrene, and the like.

A pin 13, simulating a single pole of an antenna, is stuck into the body12 at such direction and angle to indicate the optimum setting for theindicated channel. If the receiver utilizes a dipole antenna, two suchpins 13 will be inserted in each body 12 to simulate a dipole antenna.

In use, the antenna-simulating units are first adjusted and set to theoptimum setting for each respective channel in the following manner.With reference to FIG. 1, the

dicator is set to the same directional and angular relationship as thereceiver antenna poles 19 by visual comparison. The same procedure isfollowed for each channel receivable in the area.

Once the indicator has been set to indicate the optimum setting for eachchannel, it is apparent that it requires no further adjustment so longas the receiver is not moved. When the receiver is in use, it isapparent that the adjustment and setting of the receiver antenna poles19 to the optimum position is easily and quickly effected for anychannel by manually positioning the poles 19 parallel to theantenna-simulating poles corresponding to the channel in question. Thisis accomplished by mere visual comparison of the indicator and thereceiver antenna.

It will be apparent that the indicator of FIGS. 1 and 2 is equallyutilizable with receiver antennas of both single pole and dipole types.Additionally, if the receiver antenna poles 1? require shortening bytelescoping to effect best reception (most such pole antennas are oftelescoping construction), the indicator can simulate this setting byutilizing pins 13 of different length and also by merely inserting thepins to diiferent depths in the penetrable body 12.

Another embodiment of my invention is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. Inthis embodiment, each antenna simu lating unit comprises a pin 17carrying a ball 16 mounted in a socket 18 on the base 10. ThebaP-and-socket arrangement permits limited universal movement, as shownin FIG. 4, to indicate the optimum setting of each polesimulating pin17. It is apparent that this embodiment is equally applicable to bothsingle pole and dipole antenna construction. In addition, thepole-simulating pins 17 can be of telescoping construction (not shown)to indicate such a setting for optimum reception.

The indicator of my invention may be built into radio and televisionreceivers as an integral part thereof or may be manufactured and sold asa separate unit as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It willalso be understood that the invention is applicable to loop-typeantennas wherein a plurality of miniature loops are s pported on a basefor universal movement and adjustment. Loop antennas are frequentlyemployed in television receivers for UHF channels.

While the invention has been described with reference to certainembodiments, they are to be considered illustrative rather thanlimiting; andit is intended to cover all further embodiments that fallwithin the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An antenna position indicator comprising a base, a plurality ofantenna-simulating pole units mounted on said base, frequency indiciadisplay means carried by said base for each of said antenna-simulatingunits, and means for adjusting and fixing the direction and angularposition of each pole with respect to said base.

2.'An indicator as set forth in claim 1 wherein each said pole unitcomprises a pair of poles simulating a dipole antenna.

3. An antenna position indicator comprising a base, a plurality ofpenetrable bodies mounted on said base, each said body removablysupporting a pin member simulating an antenna pole and frequency indiciadisplay means carried by said base for each of said penetrable bodies.

4. An indicator as set forth in claim 3 wherein each 7 said bodyremovably supports a pair of pins simulating a receiver is turned on andtuned to channel 4, for example.

The receiver antenna poles 19 are then adjusted as to dipole antenna. q

5. An antenna position indicator comprising a base, a plurality of.sockets mounted on said base, each said socket adjustably carrying aball member having secured thereto a pin simulating an antenna pole andfrequency indicia display means carried by said base for each of saidantenna simulating pins.

6. An indicator as set forth in claim 5 wherein said sockets arearranged in pairs whereby each pair of pins carried thereby simulates adipole antenna and frequency indicia display means carried by said basefor each of said pairs of pins.

7. An antenna position indicator comprising a base, a plurality ofminiature antenna-simulating units mounted I 4 on said base, frequencyindicia display means carried by said base for each of saidantenna-simulating units and means for adjusting and fixing the positionand direction of each said antenna-simulating unit with respect to said5 base.

Finkel Mar. 25, 1958 Jefferson Feb. 9, 1943 Race Jan. 8, 1952

1. AN ANTENNA POSITION INDICATOR COMPRISING A BASE, A PLURALITY OFANTENNA-SIMULATING POLE UNITS MOUNTED ON SAID BASE, FREQUENCY INDICIADISPLAY MEANS CARRIED BY SAID